https://www.bookbaby.com/
Book Baby is a pay for service model. It is an expensive way to go. If you have the money (thousands) and feel your platform is big enough that you will earn it back, then this might be the option for you.
They handle ebooks, print-on-demand paperbacks, hard cover, photo books, children’s books, in color and black and white. They are geared more toward selling services for writers who need help with design, editing, etc. though they do have a small digital storefront. They have an in-house printing company. They do not require exclusivity, though they advertise uploading to Kindle Select which does require exclusivity.
Cost: Prices for service packages currently run from $1000 to $3500. There are additional charges for any type of change. Every additional service can add to the cost. Any time you wish to update or change anything, it has to be done through them. You pay for printing paperbacks and hard covers.
Rights: You retain all rights. They sell ISBN numbers for $39 or you can provide your own.
Distribution: Through their distribution services, your book will be listed across major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo, Walmart, and other wholesale distributors. Book Baby gets a percentage of profit in addition to the third-party distributor.
Orders are fulfilled by the retailer or by BookBaby. The books can be shipped directly from the retailer or wholesaler or BookBaby if purchased through BookBaby's bookshop. Your book will be made available in any territory in which a given bookstore operates. You can opt in or out of any of their partner stores. You can restrict your distribution service by country. Your book will be available to any third-party bookstore their partner provides digital content for.
Services: Book Baby offers everything from editing to cover and interior design to marketing package options for a fee.
Ebook file conversion costs start at $99.
They offer bulk printing and print-on-demand. You can print limited runs of books for personal use, as opposed to selling your book to the public. You can upload your existing audiobook for $99 and sell through BookBaby’s online shop. You earn 75% royalties on each audiobook sale after the distributors' cut and cost.
They will produce and upload Facebook and Instagram Ads for $199 and an ad budget for a minimum of $100 per week. You can do those ads on your own and set your own budget.
They sell bookmarks and posters. They use a company called Smith Publicity for marketing assistance. You can pay for proofreading, copy editing, line editing, and cover design.
Payment: Payments are delayed since Book Baby distributes through other venues, usually 90 days. They will post your BookShop earnings in your account in the week following all invoiced transactions.
Book Baby collects payment from other distributors and sellers, deducts any printing or selling cost, and then pays you the net sales.
There is something to be said for uploading direct to Amazon and B&N yourself, therefore keeping more of the royalty. Depending on the retail price of your title and the specs of the book, most titles will generate between 10% to 30% royalties. Sometimes, sales will fall outside of these royalty targets depending on international currency conversion rates, the manufacturing costs associated with production of your titles, and the fluctuation in retailer distribution charges. Book Baby reports income in excess of $10 to the IRS.
Next week, we look at Book Locker.
As always, if you find this information helpful, share it, like it. If you want more free information, sign up to follow the blog on blogger or the Story Building Blocks Facebook Page. Free tips and tools are also available on my site https://dianahurwitz.com/.
